Submarine mine and mooring means therefor



Feb. 14, 1961 J, C GOFF 2,971,462

SUBMARINE MINE AND MOORING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. J. C. GOFF BY JLQG A ATTYS.

Feb. 14, 1961 GQFF SUBMARINE MINE AND MOORING MEANS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1951 FIC.2.

INVENTUR. J. c. GOFF BY I710 (96 ATTYS.

Feb. 14, 1961 J. c. GOFF SUBMARINE MINE AND MOORING MEANS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 14,

INVENTOR. J. C. GOFF NN NN N I Iv N? I O |||I I I 3. 6 I I II II I I I I I I I n; IWI H I IMfi I I I I I I I I I l .I |I m I I 2,971,462 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 SUBMARINE MINE AND MOORING MEANS THEREFOR This invention relates to mine laying and more particularly to a submarine mine of the type comprising a buoyant mine case detachably mounted on a mine anchor and connected thereto by an extensible mooring cable.

Numerous arrangements have been provided previously which anchor the mine at a predetermined distance below the surface of the water with various means for adjusting the depth below the surface, including the commonly used plummet method of depth taking. However, these previous arrangements did not provide for carrying the mine casing to a relatively deep inoperative position with a subsequent release or delayed rising after a certain time interval to a predetermined adjustable depth below the surface, Where the mine would be operative for its intended purpose, nor did they prevent the mine from being carried below a predetermined maximum depth which would crush the mine casing.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention the mine anchor is detachably secured to a buoyant mine casing and incorporates a novel mechanism having a threaded rod along which travels a small trolley. A plummet is also releasably secured to the anchor and is adapted to be released a predetermined time after the mine is launched. A plummet cable attached to the plummet is wound around a drum and passes over a measuring pulley which rotates the threaded rod in one direction during descent of the plummet, and drives the trolley in one direction. The mine casing is moored to the anchor by a cable which is wound around another drum and passes over another measuring pulley which rotates the threaded rod in the opposite direction when operatively connected thereto and drives the trolley in the opposite direction. Means are provided for releasing the mine from the anchor and filling the anchor with water, when the plummet touches the bottom or reaches the end of its run, and also for engaging the mine cable measuring pulley with the threaded rod, only when the plummet touches bottom. When the plummet strikes bottom before reaching the end of its run, lock ing means is engaged with the mine cable drum so that the mine is carried down with the anchor, after it is filled with water. When the plummet reaches the end of its run without engaging the bottom, the mine is released from the anchor so that the anchor will fill with water and drop towards the bottom with the mine cable running off of the mine cable drum, but without the mine cable measuring pulley being engaged with the threaded rod. When the plummet touches bottom, the mine cable drum is locked in a similar manner and the mine is carried down below the surface to a distance equal to the length to the plummet line. Further means are provided for disengaging the locking means in either case after a predetermined interval of time, so that the mine rises towards the surface with the mine cable pulley in engagement with the threaded rod thus moving the trolley in the opposite direction until it engages an adjustable stop which operates to engage the second locking United v States Patent OfiFice means with the mine cabledrum to moor the mine at a predetermined distance below the surface.

One object of the present invention is to providena mine having adjustable automatic depth setting and which will not carry the mine below a predetermined depth in any manner of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mine having an easily adjustable automatic depth set! ting together with delayed rising from a relatively deep position before final mooring at the adjustable operative depth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mine anchor which will carry the mine to the bottom or to a predetermined inoperative depth below the surface and subsequently permit the mine to rise and moor it at an operative depth below the surface' Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a schematic view of the mechanism incorporated in one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with portions broken away showing the releasable connection between the mine and the anchor housing;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the operation of the mine in depths less than the maximum safe depth for the particular mine, and 1' Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the operation of the mine in depths greater than the maximum safe depth for the particular mine. Referring now to the drawings indetail and with particular reference to Fig. 2, the mine casing 10, which is adapted to contain an explosive charge (not shown) and is designed for buoyancy, is mounted on supports 11 and 12 and is secured to the anchor housing 13 by a clip 14 and a turnbuckle 15.- Clip 14 engages a hook 16 on the mine casing 10 and is secured to the anchor housing 13, while turnbuckle 15 engages a hook 18 on the mine 10 and a trigger catch 19 which is pivoted on the bracket 21 in turn secured to support 12. Pivoted catch 19 is retained in the position shownby the end of a mine release rod 23 until subsequently released.

The mine casing 10 engages anoutwardly movable spring urged piston 24 mounted in the cylindrical casing 25 to hold an inlet valve (not shown) in closed position until after the anchor 13 is released from the mine casing 10. Mine casing 10 also has an eye 26 secured thereto which engages the looped end of the mooring cable 27 extending through a suitable opening in the anchor housing 13.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 would be housed within the anchor housing 13 but has been shown in schematic form to more clearly illustrate the operation thereof. In the conventional arrangement commonly used with this type of mine the anchor housing is provided with wheels 28 which are adapted to engage in mine tracks on the mine layer. A fifth wheel 29, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, also engages in the mine tracks and after release of a mine drops down due to gravity rotating shaft 30 and crank 31 thus releasing from the notch 32 a bell crank or plummet release lever 33 urged by the spring 34 to the left as shown. 1

A dash pot 35 is connected by the piston rod 36 to the other arm of the bell crank ,33 to retard .the movement thereof. A rod 37 is also connected to the bell crank 33.

and is provided with a pin 38 which engages a suitable transverse bore 39 in the upper end of the plummet 41. A plummet cable or line 42 is attached to the plummet 41 and is trained over a fixed pulley 43, pulley 44 rotatably mounted on a pivoted control lever or tension arm 45, over another fixed pulley 46, over a measuring pulley 47, between guide pulleys 48 and 49 and is wound and secured on the plummet cable drum 51 which is preferably provided with a braking mechanism (not shown) for maintaining tension on cable 42 during descent of the plummet 41.

Control lever is provided with a slot 52 at its lower end which engages the pin 53 on bell crank 33. Lever 45 is pivoted at 54 and is provided with a shoulder 55 engaging the lever 56 which is pivoted at 57 and is resiliently urged upwardly by spring 58. The mine case release rod 23 is pivotally connected to the end of lever 56. A locking rod 61 is pivoted at an intermediate point on lever 45 and extends through a fixed bracket 62 with a stop 63 to limit its leftward movement. A spring 64 engages the bracket 62 at one end and a collar 65 mounted on the rod 61 urging'the latter to the left.

The opposite end of locking rod 61 is provided with an enlarged portion 66 forming a shoulder against which the spring 67 engages with the opposite end of spring 67 engagingthe plug 68 threaded into the end of the hollow cylindrical barrel of a locking pawl 69. The locking rod 61 is retained in fixed relation to the locking pawl 69 by the locking pin 71 which extends diametrically through the enlarged portion 66. The other end of locking pawl 69 is provided with a tapered nose 72 which is adapted to engage between the teeth of the drum wheel 73 to prevent rotation thereof, when pawl 69 is moved to the left.

A timer control 74 is suitably connected to a boss 75 on locking pawl 69 in a position to drive out the pin 71 by suitable means such as an explosive charge after a predetermined interval of time subsequent to launching of the mine. For this latter purpose the timer control may be suitabley connected with the fifth wheel 29, bell crank 33 or some other movable member by means not shown, so as to start its cycle concurrently with launching of the mine or at some later time in the operation of the mechanism, as desired.

The drum wheel 73 is secured to one side of the mine cable drum 76 about which the mine mooring cable 27 is wound. The opposite end of the drum 76 is provided with a similar drum wheel or ratchet gear 77 which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable locking pawl 78 urged toward the wheel by a spring 79. The pawl 78 is retained out of engagement with the teeth of the drum wheel 77 by means of the trigger catch 81 actuated by the depth setting rod 82 which is slideably mounted in the frame members 83 and 84 and is provided with stop collars 85 and 86. A spring 87 urges the rod to the right as shown. An adjustable stop member 88 is slideably mounted on the rod 82 between the frame members 83 and 84 and adjacent a scale 89 and is provided with a pointer 91 which indicates the depth at which the mine will be finally moored. Stop member 88 is adjustably secured in any desired position corresponding to the markings on the scale 89 by a set screw 92. A pivoted pawl 93 is mounted on the lower portion of adjustable stop member 88 and is engaged by a fixed lug 94 to limit its movement to one direction only.

A threaded element or screw shaft 95 is rotatably mounted by bearings (not shown) in the frame members 83 and 84. A trolley or traveller 96 is mounted on the screw shaft 95 and has an upper arm 97 adapted to engage the pawl 93 and a lower arm 98 slideably mounted on a guide rod 99 extending between the frame members 83 and 84. The lower arm 98 functions to prevent rotation of the traveller 96 with the screw shaft 95.

Screw shaft 95 has a stub shaft 101 secured thereto at one end and extending through frame member 84 for mounting measuring pulley 47 which is secured by a set screw 102.

A clutch member 103 is suitably secured to a stub shaft on the opposite end of screw 95 by suitable means such as the set screw 104 and is adapted to engage an opposing clutch member 105 provided with a suitable clutch facing 106. Clutch member 105 is provided with a spaced flange 107 forming an annular groove 108 and is splined or suitably connected to a shaft 109 so as to rotate therewith but to move axially relative thereto. A. pulley 111 is suitably secured to shaft 109 as by a set screw 112 and is engaged by the mine mooring cable 27' which rotates pulley 111 and clutch member 105 when the cable 27 is paying out from the drum 76 between guide pulleys 113 and 114. Clutch member 105 is movable axially in either direction by the shifting arm 115 which is mounted on a fixed pivot at 116 and is actuated by a shifting rod 117 pivotally mounted at 118 on the upper end of control lever 45 above pivot 54.

The operation of the submarine mine will be clearly apparent from the following description taken in connection with Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 together with the detailed showings in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 3 illustrates the operation at depths less than the maximum to which the mine should be submerged to prevent crushing thereof due to excessive pressure. The mine is launched by a mine laying vessel in the usual manner from the racks and immediately after launching the fifth wheel 29 will drop down by gravity to rotate shaft 30 and release the lower arm of hell crank 33 from the notch 32 to permit the spring 34 to move the lower arm of the bell crank 33 to the left, as shown in- Fig. 1, against the resistance of the dash pot 35. After a predetermined interval the rod 37 will have moved a sufiicient distance to the left to release the pin 38 from the transverse bore 39 in the plummet 41. The plummet will start to drop, but, since the pin 53 has not yet disengaged from the slot 52, the control lever 45 will not move from its neutral position, as shown, in Fig. 1.

A short time later the bell crank 33 has moved far enough to disengage the pin 53 from slot 52, however, by this time the plummet has reached a constant speed of descent and will exert only a small force on the pulley 44 due to the braking of drum 51 and exerted through the plummet cable 42, which force is substantially balanced by the force of the spring 64 to the left exerted through rod 61 on control lever 45, so that the control lever 45 will remain in the substantially neutral position shown. This stage of the operation is shown at 3A, where the plummet has started its descent toward the bottom. At 3B the plummet has struck bottom which decreases the tension on the cable 42 permitting the spring 64 to move the control lever 45 to the left which in turn moves the right hand corner of the shoulder 55 downward in engagement with the lever 56 thus moving the mine release rod 23 downward and releasing catch 19, shown in Fig. 2, to detach the mine 10 from the anchor 13.

At the same time rod 61 moves to the left engaging the tapered nose 72 of the locking pawl 69 between the teeth of the drum wheel 73 to prevent rotation thereof. However, there is sufficient slack in the mine mooring cable 27 to permit the mine 10 to separate from the anchor 13 and thus actuate the inlet valve through piston 24 permitting water to enter the anchor housing 13 which will therefore sink to the bottom dragging the mine 10 with it, as illustrated at 3C, where the mine will remain until the timer control 74 has gone through its cycle and set off the explosive charge for releasing the pin 71.

During the drop of the plummet from the position of 3A until the plummet reaches the bottom, the traveller 96 has been moved by measuring pulley 47 driving screw shaft 95 from the initial position at the extreme left hand end of screw shaft 95, as shown in Fig. 1, to a position somewhere between the adjustable stop 88 and the right hand frame member 84 depending on the depth of the bottom. The movement of the traveller 96 is obviously proportional to the depth of the body of liquid or the length of the plummet line 42 which has run out before the plummet touches bottom.

a After the pin 71 has been driven out by the explosive charge the locking pawl 69 will move to the right due to the action of spring 67 and will move the tapered nose 72 out of engagement with the drum wheel 73 to pay outjthe mine mooring cable 27. Since the clutch member 105 is engaging the clutch member 103 and plummet cable 42 is slack over measuring pulley 47, the screw shaft 95 will rotate in the opposite direction moving the traveller 96 to the left until it strikes the pawl 93 which is prevented from moving to the left by the lug 94 and therefore moves the rod 82 to the left releasing the trigger catch 81 and engaging the pawl 78 with the teeth of the drum wheel 77 thus stopping the mine at an operative distance below the surface, as shown at 3D, corresponding to the adjusted position of the stop member 88, as indicated on the scale 89.

In the operation of the submarine mine in relatively deep water which is over the maximum depth at which the mine may be submerged without crushing the functioning of the mechanism shown in Fig. l is substantially different and will be described in conjunction with the steps shown in Fig. 4. The mine is launched and the plummet is released in a manner similar to that described with reference to Fig. 3, however, since the bottom is well over the maximum safe depth corresponding to the length of the plummet cable 42, as indicated on the scale 89, the plummet will drop until it has reached the end of its cable 42, at which time the drum 51 is abruptly stopped and will cause a rapid immediate increase in tension on cable 42 which will move the pulley 44 and control lever 45 to the right.

This movement of control lever 45 will move the rod 61 to the right and keep the tapered nose 72 out of engagement with drum wheel 73 and simultaneously move the left corner of shoulder 55 downward thus actuating the anchor release rod 23 for separating the mine from the anchor 13 and actuating the inlet valve through piston 24 to fill the anchor with water, as illustrated at 4B. The anchor will continue its downward movement, but, since the tapered nose 72 is not engaged with drum wheel 73, the mooring cable drum 76 will pay out the cable 27 over pulley 111, and, since the shifting arm 115 is moved to the left with movement of control lever 45 to the right, the clutch members 103 and 105 are disengaged, and therefore the traveller 96 which has moved to the extreme right hand end of the screw shaft 95 will not be moved to the left at this time.

The anchor 13 will continue downward with the mine 10 floating at the surface until the plummet 41 touches the bottom, as illustrated at 4C. When this occurs, the abrupt decrease of tension of the plummet cable 42 permits the spring 64 to move the lever 45 to the left and engage the tapered nose 72 of locking pawl 69 with the drum wheel 73 thus stopping further rotation of the mooring cable drum 76. The anchor will continue to the bottom pulling the mine down with it until the mine is submerged the maximum safe depth below the surface which will not cause crushing of the mine, as shown at 4D. After a predetermined time interval the timer control 74 will set off the explosive charge and release pin 71 at which time the mooring cable drum 76 is again released and the mine mooring cable 27 will pay out until the mine has reached a predetermined distance below the surface in a manner similar to that described present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings, and it is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the pay ment of royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is:

1. A submarine device comprising a buoyant casing, an

anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said cas-' ing on said anchor housing, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for pay- .rng out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of tension on said plummet cable for releasing said casingfrom said anchor, a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval of time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said mean for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said casing at a depth below the surface determined by the position of said adjustable stop member.

2. A submarine device comprising a buoyant casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval of time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said casing "at adepth below the surface determined by the position of said adjustable stop member.

3. 'A submarine device comprising a buoyant casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a'movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means re sponsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, further means responsive to a decrease of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval of time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said casing at a depth below the attached to said casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out 'ofsaid plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to an increase of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, means for releasing said locking mechanism and paying out said mooring cable as said releasing means is actuated to a release position, timer control means connected to said releasing means for actuating the releasing means to said release position, and means actuatable by said stop member for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said casing at a depth below the surface determined by said adjustable stop member.

5. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, 21 plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor, means for releasing said locking mechanism and paying out said mooring cable as the releasing means is actuated to -a release position, timer control means connected to said releasing means for actuating the releasing means to said release position, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by the position of said adjustable stop member. a

6. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine cas ing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuable for filling said anchor housing With liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively con meeting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, means for releasing said locking mechanism and paying out said mooring cable as said releasing means is actuated to a release position, timer control means connected to said releasing means for actuating the releasing means to said release position, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by the position of said adjustable stop member.

7. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine cas- I ing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means .selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, further means responsive to a decrease of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, means for releasing said locking mechanism and paying out said mooring cable as said releasing means is actuated to a release position, timer control means connected to said releasing means for actuating the releasing means to said release position, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by said adjustable stop member.

8. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a. plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to an increase of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, means for releasing said locking mechanism and paying out said mooring cable as said releasing means is actuated to a release position, timer control means connected to said releasing means for actuating the releasing means to said release position, and means actuatable by said stop member for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by said adjustable stop member.

9. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said housing anchor, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor, a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval of time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by the position of said adjustable stop member.

10. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid, at mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval of time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by the position of said adjustable stop member.

11. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, further means responsive to a decrease of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means filling said anchor casing with liquid, and a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval or" time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for again locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by said adjustable stop member.

12. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, separate means for paying out said mooring cable and said plummet cable respectively, a movable member, means selectively operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite direction, means for operatively connecting said means for paying out said plummet cable to said means for moving said movable member, means responsive only to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable and operatively connecting said means for paying out said mooring cable with said means for moving said movable member, means responsive to an increase of the tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor casing with liquid, a timer control for releasing said locking mechanism after a predetermined interval of time and paying out said mooring cable, and means actuatable by said stop member for locking said means for paying out said mooring cable in response to engagement by said movable member in said opposite direction to position said mine casing at a depth below the surface determined by said adjustable stop member.

13. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with a liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable also contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, a movable member, means responsive to paying out of said plummet cable for moving said movable member in one direction, means responsive to a decrease of tension on said plummet cable on contact of the plummet with the bottom of a body of liquid for preventing said mooring cable from paying out, means responsive to either a decrease or increase of tension on said plummet cable for releasing said mine casing from said anchor and actuating said means for filling said anchor with liquid, means for releasing said preventing means after a predetermined interval of time for paying out said mooring cable, means responsive to paying out of said mooring cable for moving said member in the opposite direction, an adjustable stop memher positioned in the path of travel of the said movable member and engageable thereby only When moving in the opposite direction, and means actuatable by engagement of said stop member by said movable member for preventing further paying out of said mooring cable.

14. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means for filling said anchor housing with a liquid, a mooring cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said mine casing, a plummet, a plummet cable contained within said anchor housing and having one end attached to said plummet, a movable member, means for moving said member, a control lever operatively associatcd with said plummet cable for movement in one direction responsive to a decrease of tension thereon and movement in the other direction responsive to an increase of tension thereon, means responsive to paying out of said plummet cable for driving said means for moving said movable member in one direction, linkage means operatively connected with said control lever and actuated by movement thereof in one direction for preventing said mooring cable from paying out and concurrently releasing said mine casing from said anchor and filling said anchor with liquid, means for releasing said preventing means after a predetermined interval of time for paying out said mooring cable, means actuated only by movement of said control lever in one direction and responsive to paying out of said mooring cable for driving said means for moving said member in the opposite direction, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in the opposite direction, and means actuated by engagement of said stop member by said movable member for preventing further paying out of said mooring cable.

15. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, means actuatable for filling said anchor housing with liquid when said casing is separated from said housing, one drum having a mooring cable wound thereon With one end of said cable attached to said mine casing, 21 plummet releasably mounted on said housing, another drum having a cable secured and wound thereon with one end of said cable attached to said plummet, a control lever pivotally mounted in said housing, means for releasing said plummet and subsequently releasing said control lever from a neutral position after launching of the mine, a locking rod connected to said control lever, means for resiliently urging said control lever and locking rod in one direction, a pulley mounted on said control lever and having said plummet cable trained thereover for urging said control level in the opposite direction responsive to tension on said plummet cable, a locking pawl mounted on said locking rod and positioned to engage said one drum to prevent rotation thereof on movement in said one direction in response to a decrease of tension in said plummet cable, means for releasing said locking pawl from engagement with said drum after a predetermined time interval, a lever mechanism for releasing said mine casing from said anchor housing and actuating said means for filling, a shoulder on said control lever operatively engaging said lever mechanism in response to either an increase or decrease of tension in said plummet cable, a movable member, drive means operable for moving said member in one direction responsive to paying out of said plummet cable from said other drum, said drive means being actuated only by movement of said conrtol lever in said one direction in response to a decrease in tension on said plummet cable for moving said member in the opposite direction responsive to paying out of said mooring cable from said one drum, an adjustable stop member positioned in the path of travel of said movable member and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite 13 direction, and another locking pawl actuated by said stop member and positioned to engage said one drum and prevent further rotation thereof.

16. A submarine mine comprising a buoyant mine casing, an anchor housing, means for detachably mounting said mine casing on said anchor housing, a mooring cable drum mounted within said casing, 21 mooring cable wound around said drum and having one end attached to said mine casing, 21 plummet, a plummet cab-le drum mounted within said anchor housing, a plummet cable secured to and wound around said plummet drum and having one end attached to said plummet, a pivotally mounted Wheel mounted on said anchor housing and adapted to move subsequent to launching of said mine, a bell crank, means actuated by movement of said wheel and adapted to releasably engage said bell crank, means for resiliently urging said bell crank in one direction, means for retarding the movement of said bell crank in said one direction, means connected to said bell crank and releasably engaging said p-lummet, a control lever pivotally mounted within said housing, a locking rod connected to said control lever, means resiliently urging said locking rod and control lever in one direction toward said mooring cable drum, a pulley mounted on said control lever, said plummet cable being trained around said pulley to urge said control lever in the opposite direction when tension is exerted on said plummet cable, means on said bell crank for releasably engaging and maintaining said control lever in a neutral position, a locking pawl mounted on said locking rod, means on said mooring cable drum engageable by said locking pawl for preventing rotation thereof, a screw shaft, a traveller mounted on said screw shaft for axial movement corresponding to rotary movement of said screw shaft, means for rotating said shaft and moving said traveller in one direction in response to paying out of said plummet cable and in the opposite direction in response to paying out of said mooring cable, a depth setting rod slideably mounted for movement parallel to the axis of said. screw shaft, an adjustable stop member mounted on said depth setting rod and positioned in the path of travel of said traveller and engageable thereby only when moving in said opposite di rection, a lever mechanism actuated by said depth setting rod and including a pawl for locking said mine cable drum, a release mechanism, a shoulder on said control lever engaging said release mechanism and operative by movement thereof in either direction for releasing said mine casing from said anchor housing, and a shifting mechanism operatively connected to said control lever and actuated by movement thereof in said one direction for engaging said means for rotating said screw shaft in response to paying out of said mooring cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Elia Aug. 26, 1924 

